Youth Home International Result 2004

Lough Conn

INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING CONTEST – LOUGH CONN

The Youth Fly fishing International match was fished this year on Lough Conn in Ireland. Despite the Welsh Youth team having a number of squad days they found this a hard match. In all the team attended some four squad days and it was a good team in terms of experience, however the result did not do justice to the commitment or indeed to their ability of the team.

Two squad days had been held on Llyn Talyllyn and another on Neuadd reservoir and WSTAA would like to be placed on record its appreciation to Tommy Rowlands, Talyllyn and to Merthyr angling club for their outstanding generosity to the young anglers in giving training facilities.

The Youth team is one of immense potential and should do really well in future.

The international match in Ireland had many interesting facets and the coach load of parents and helpers was good when it came to providing the necessary one to one help. One to one coaching is wonderful in that all problems be they minor or major can be dealt with quickly and effectively and in a person manner.

The Championship in Ireland was on Lough Conn with competitors fishing from a boat. This was well organised and the gillies were well versed in looking after young anglers. Unfortunately the fish in Lough Conn were not so co-operative as the Irish anglers and on match day the conditions proved very difficult for the four competing teams. Each team consisted of 14 young anglers and after seven hours of solid competitive fishing the Irish fishers came in first position with only nine fish in total reducing the competition to something of a lottery.

When the fishing is this hard then the element of luck does play a huge part in the result.

The Welsh team did quite well and indeed the final results reflected how even the National Youth Fly Fishing teams are. The Irish team took nine fish for 9.73 lbs the English took 8 fish for 7.99lbs and the Welsh took 6 fish for 6.21lbs with Craig Bowen (Aberdare) taking three of those fish to his own rod. Sean Jones (Hirwaun), Jamie Graham (Clydach) and Alun Jenkins (Caehopkin) also contributed to the Welsh team score. The Scottish team took only 3 fish for 5.0lbs.A hard match indeed. The Welsh Youth team members were:

Don’t forget your licence:

Don't forget your rod licence will expire on the 31st March. Any angler aged 12 years or over, fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England (except the River Tweed), Wales or the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland must have an Environment Agency rod licence. Buy your licence online